IOWA CITY, Iowa — In a thrilling game on Friday night, Iowa managed to fend off a late surge from Penn State, clinching a narrow 76-75 victory. Both Owen Freeman and Drew Thelwell were key contributors for Iowa, each scoring 16 points, helping the team improve to a record of 13-7 and 4-5 in the Big Ten Conference.
The Hawkeyes took control of the game when Payton Sandfort drained a 3-pointer, putting Iowa ahead 16-14 with just over 13 minutes left in the first half. They maintained their momentum, extending their lead to as much as ten points at 68-58 with a little more than seven minutes remaining on the clock. However, after a jumper from Sandfort with 3:28 left in the game gave Iowa an eight-point edge at 76-68, the team struggled to score again and was left vulnerable.
As the game neared its conclusion, Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored a dunk, followed by Nick Kern Jr. making one of two free throws. Niederhauser then made a timely outside shot and successfully converted two free throws with 53 seconds on the clock, narrowing the gap to just one point for the Nittany Lions. Despite having possession of the ball in the closing moments, Penn State missed two attempts from beyond the arc. Thelwell missed the front end of a one-and-one with three seconds left, and the Nittany Lions were unable to get off a shot as time expired.
In terms of individual performances, Freeman showcased his efficiency by shooting 5 of 9 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line, adding nine rebounds to his stat line. Thelwell, who recently transferred from Morehead State, not only surpassed 1,000 career points but also shot 6 of 10 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from three-point territory, while contributing five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Josh Dix chipped in with 11 points, while Sandfort ended the game with 10 points.
For Penn State, Kern Jr. was the standout player, leading his team with 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Niederhauser contributed 13 points, and Freddie Dilione V added another 10 points to the scoreboard.
Iowa’s victory broke a three-game losing streak and was significant as it marked the only matchup between these two teams for the current season. Looking ahead, Iowa will be heading to Ohio State on Monday, while Penn State is set to face off against No. 21 Michigan on the same day.
